Program Descriptions
Program Number
16.523
Title
Juvenile Accountability Block Grants
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Authorization
Public Law 107-273.
Status
Active
Objectives
To provide States and units of local government with funds to develop programs to strengthen and promote greater accountability in the juvenile justice system. To survey the field and identify projects that would benefit from research, demonstration, and evaluation in the 16 purpose areas identified in the JABG Program. To provide training and technical assistance to States and units of local government so they may develop programs outlined in the 16 program areas to promote greater accountability in the juvenile justice system.
Types of Assistance
Formula Grants; Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
A total of $49,361,400 has been appropriated in FY 2007 to be used as follows: Formula grant funds in the amount of $40,245,992 will be available for use in the following areas: (1) Developing, implementing, and administering graduated sanctions for juvenile offenders. (2) Building, expanding, renovating or operating temporary or permanent juvenile correction, detention, or corrections facilities. (3) Hiring juvenile court judges, probation officers, and courtappointed defenders and special advocates, and funding pretrial services (including mental health screening and assessment) for juvenile offenders, to promote the effective and expeditious administration of the juvenile justice system. (4) Hiring additional prosecutors so that more cases involving violent juvenile offenders can be prosecuted and case backlogs reduced. (5) Providing funding to enable prosecutors to address drug, gang, and youth violence problems more effectively and for technology, equipment and training to assist prosecutors in identifying and expediting the prosecution of violent juvenile offenders. (6) Establishing and maintaining training programs for law enforcement and other court personnel with respect to preventing and controlling juvenile crime. (7) Establishing juvenile gun courts for the prosecution and adjudication of juvenile firearms offenders. (8) Establishing drug court programs for juvenile offenders that provide continuing judicial supervision over juvenile offenders with substance abuse problems and the integrated administration of other sanctions and services for such offenders. (9) Establishing and maintaining a system of juvenile records designed to promote public safety. (10) Establishing and maintaining interagency information-sharing programs that enable the juvenile and criminal justice systems, schools, and social services agencies to make more informed decisions regarding the early identification, control, supervision, and treatment of juveniles who repeatedly commit serious delinquent or criminal acts. (11) Establishing and maintaining accountabilitybased programs designed to reduce recidivism amount juveniles who are referred by law referred by law enforcement personnel or agencies. (12) Establishing and maintaining programs to conduct risk and needs assessments of juvenile offenders that facilitate effective early intervention and the provision of comprehensive services, including mental health screening and treatment and substance abuse testing and treatment, to such offenders. (13) Establishing and maintaining accountability-based programs that are designed to enhance school safety. (14) Establishing and maintaining restorative justice programs. (15) Establishing and maintaining programs to enable juvenile courts and juvenile probation officers to be more effective and efficient in holding juvenile offenders accountable and reducing recidivism. (16) Hiring detention and corrections personnel and establishing and maintaining training programs for such personnel, to improve facility practices and programming. (17) Establishing, improving and coordinating pre-release and post-release systems and programs to facilitate the successful reentry of juvenile offenders from state and local custody in the community. Funds in the amount of $3,948,912 are available to support research, evaluation, and demonstration projects consistent with this program. Input will be solicited from the States to determine which of the 17 areas are most important and where the greatest needs are. This information will guide and provide insight for research, evaluation, and demonstration activities under this program. Training and technical assistance funds, in the amount of $987,228, are available to support the 17 program areas targeted by the JABG Program.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Each State and territory (except Palau) is eligible to receive an allocation and award of funds for State and units of local government if the Governor certifies-, consistent with guidelines established by the Attorney General.
Beneficiary Eligibility
All States and territories are eligible to receive an allocation and award of funds for State and units of local government. Funds are available to public and private agencies, organizations, or individuals to apply for discretionary and training and technical assistance funds.
Credentials/Documentation
Each applicant must submit a completed application, including signed assurances that it will comply with statutory and administrative requirements. For Research and Evaluation grants, costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. E.O. 12372 requires applicants from State and local units of government or other organizations providing services within a State to submit a copy of the application to the State Single Points of Contact (SPOC), if one exists. Research and evaluation grants are excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Applicants must submit completed applications via the Office of Justice Programs, Grants Management System. The receipt, review and analysis of applications will follow Office of Justice Programs policies and procedures for the administration of grant applications. The Demonstration Program Division is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110 and the Common Rule.
Award Procedure
A letter with copies of the grant award are sent to the applicant agency upon approval by the Office of Justice Programs. One copy of the grant award must be signed by the authorized official and returned to the Office of Justice Programs. Local units of government will receive JABG funds through the applicant agency subgrant award process. Each State and territory that receives monies under the JABG program must establish an interest-bearing trust fund to deposit program funds. Each State and territory (recipient) or unit of local government (subrecipient) that receives program funds must establish a coordinated enforcement plan for reducing juvenile crime, developed by an Advisory Board.
Deadlines
Consult the Application Kit or contact the State Relations and Assistance Division, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs; Telephone: (202) 307-5924 for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Formula grant applications will generally be approved within 30 to 45 days of receipt of a complete application. Discretionary grant applications generally take 2 to 4 months.
Appeals
Hearing and appeal procedures will follow 28 CFR, Part 18, of the Department of Justice Regulations.
Renewals
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Public Law 107-273 allocates 0.5 percent of the appropriated amount for each State and territory and of the total funds remaining, allocates to each State an amount that bears the same ratio as the population of people under the age of 18 living in each State for the most recent calendar year in which the data is available. The Program requires a cash match of 10 percent of total program costs; Federal funds may not exceed 90 percent of total program costs. (Each State and territory that receives money under the JABG program must establish an interest-bearing trust fund to deposit program funds.) Interest derived from the award does not have to be matched, but interest generated from the trust fund cannot be used to match the Federal award. Matching contributions need not be applied at the exact time or in proportion to the obligation of Federal funds. However, the full match amount must be obligated by the end of the 36 month project period. For discretionary grants, no match is required.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Formula grant awards are made for 36 months; discretionary grants are generally for 1 to 3 years.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Quarterly financial, annual, and semiannual progress reports are required.
Audits
All organizations that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in any fiscal year must have a single audit for that year in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133, as described in OJP's Financial Guide, Chapter 19. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that Expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for the year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
In accordance with the requirement set forth in 28 CFR, Parts 66 and 70, grantees must maintain all financial reports and other supporting documents pertinent to the award for at least 3 years following the close of the most recent audit.
Financial Information
Account Identification
15-0404-0-1-754 and 15-0405-0-1-754.
Obligations
FY 07 $49,361,000; FY 08 $51,700,000; and FY 09 est not available.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
None.
Program Accomplishments
OJJDP's National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) serves as the national training and technical assistance provider for the JABG program to ensure that comprehensive support is available to states and units of local government. SRAD is working with the Designated State Agencies (DSAs) to help assure the timely award of allocations to Units of local government, and where appropriate approve waiver requests to retain a percentage of funds at the State level equal to the State's level of primary financial burden for the administration of juvenile justice within the twelve program purpose areas.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
OJP Financial Guide.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Gregory Thompson, Associate Administrator, State Relations and Assistance Division, Telephone: (202) 307-5924, or Thomas Murphy, Program Manager; Telephone: (202) 353-8734; and Jeff Slowikowski, Associate Administrator, Demonstration Programs Division, Telephone: (202) 616-3646.
Headquarters Office
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice, 810 7th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531. Contact State Relations and Assistance Division; Telephone: (202) 307-5924.
Web Site Address
http://www.usdoj.gov
Related Programs
None.
Examples of Funded Projects
In addition to the FY 2007 Block Grant awrds, funds were awarded to several tribal entities and a tribal training and technical assistance provider to enhance OJJDP's effort to provide funds to Indian Country. Additionally, an award was made to the National Training and Technical Assistance Center.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Criteria is established by the Juvenile Accountability Block Grants (JABG) FY 2002 Guidance Manual as established by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
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